Harnessing the Power of Phenolic Compounds for Boosted Crop Resilience and Health

Abstract

Phenolic compounds are secondary metabolites synthesized by plants that play crucial roles in plant defense, growth, and adaptation to environmental stresses. These compounds are primarily derived from the shikimate pathway and are classified based on their carbon skeleton into simple phenolics (C6, C6-Cn, and C6-Cn-C6) and complex phenolics, such as flavonoids, lignans, stilbenes and tannins. Phenolic compounds act as signaling molecules in plant-microbe interactions, including legume-rhizobia symbiosis and arbuscular mycorrhization. They also contribute to plant defense against biotic and abiotic stressors through direct antimicrobial activity, structural reinforcement and modulation of plant immune responses. Phenolic compounds are synthesized via the shikimate/phenylpropanoid or polyketide acetate/malonate pathways, resulting in a diverse array of compounds with distinct biological activities. Recent advances in biotechnology, including elicitation, genetic transformation, and metabolic engineering, have enabled the enhanced production of valuable phenolic compounds in plants. However, challenges remain in optimizing phenolic biosynthesis for improved crop resilience due to the complexity of the regulatory networks and potential trade-offs with plant growth and ecological interactions. Future research should focus on integrating systems biology, multi-omics approaches, and precision breeding to harness the potential of phenolic compounds for sustainable agriculture and crop improvement in the face of increasing biotic and abiotic stress.